poor

1 of 2

adjective

ˈpu̇r  ˈpȯr 

1

a

: lacking sufficient money or material possessions

too poor to buy new clothes

b

: of, relating to, or characterized by poverty

a poor nation

2

a

: less than adequate : meager

a poor effort

poor attendance

b

: small in worth

3

: exciting pity

you poor thing

4

a

: inferior in quality or value

had poor language skills

b

: humble, unpretentious

c

: mean, petty

poor sports

5

: lean, emaciated

6

: barren, unproductive

—used of land

7

: indifferent, unfavorable

had a poor opinion of them

a poor profession

8

: lacking a normal or adequate supply of something specified

—often used in combination

oil-poor countries

poorish

ˈpu̇r-ish 

ˈpȯr-

adjective

poorness noun

poorness

2 of 2

noun

poor·​ness

plural -es

: the quality or state of being poor

Synonyms of poor

Adjective

• impoverished
• broke

Examples of poor in a Sentence

Adjective

We were too poor to buy new clothes.

The organization helps poor families.

She has a poor vocabulary.

It was a poor attempt at a joke.

He is in poor condition.

She couldn't read the sign because her vision was too poor.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

As the wealth gap between the richest and poorest Americans has widened over the past 60 years, many parents have been eager to optimize their children’s success. —Darby Saxbe, The Conversation, 16 June 2026

Meanwhile, poor Sol is blithely ignoring Jen’s warning that Sincere seemed to switch up on Melanie awfully quick and that Sincere and Melanie are very in sync. —Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 16 June 2026

Over or under-watering results in poor growth, wilting, and a lack of flowers. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 16 June 2026

But Heidrich says the researchers observed that some of the transmissible microbes were associated with poor health. —Joseph Kim, NPR, 16 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English poure, from Anglo-French povre, pore, from Latin pauper; akin to Latin paucus little and to Latin parere to give birth to, produce — more at few, pare

Noun

Middle English pourenesse, from poure poor + -nesse -ness

First Known Use

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing poor

• a poor second/third/fourth
• bad/poor form
• bad/poor loser
• dirt-poor
• in poor/bad (etc.) condition
• in (very) bad/poor taste
• land-poor
• make a poor fist of
• poor/bad sport
• poor box
• poor boy
• poor devil
• poor farm
• poor law
• poor man's
• poor-mouth
• poor/sad/sorry excuse for
• poor-spirited
• poor white
• the poor
• undeserving poor
• whip-poor-will

Kids Definition

poor

1 of 2 adjective

ˈpu̇(ə)r, 

ˈpō(ə)r

1

: lacking riches or possessions

2

: less than enough

a poor crop

3

: not good in quality or character of work

4

: lacking fertility

poor land

5

: not satisfactory

the patient had a poor day

6

: lacking in signs of wealth or good taste

poor furnishings

7

: worthy of pity or sympathy

the poor kitten hurt its paw

poorly adverb

poorness noun

poor

2 of 2 plural noun

: poor people

charity for the poor